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〃We　were　obliged　to　go　to　Fontainebleau。　　We　have　but　just　come　back。　I　thought　of　writing　to　you；〃　she　softly　added。

〃Ah；　what　pleasure　that　would　have　given　me！〃

〃I　mean；　to　tell　you　where　we　were；　and　that　we　should　have　been　so　happy　to　see　you。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　the　intention。　　I　suppose　your　daughter　would　n't　let　you　carry　it　out。〃

〃Angela　is　so　peculiar；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　said；　simply。

〃You　told　me　that　the　first　time　I　saw　you。〃

〃Yes；　at　Siena；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　you　speak　frankly　of　that　place！〃

〃Perhaps　it　's　better；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　murmured。　　She　got　up　and　went　to　the　window；　then　stepping　upon　the　balcony；　she　looked　down　a　moment　into　the　street。　　〃She　will　come　back　in　a　moment；〃　she　said；　coming　into　the　room　again。　〃She　has　gone　to　see　a　friend　who　lives　just　beside　us。　We　don't　mind　about　Siena　now；〃　she　added；　softly。

Bernard　understood　herunderstood　this　to　be　a　retraction　of　the　request　she　had　made　of　him　at　Baden。

〃Dear　little　woman；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃she　wants　to　marry　her　daughter　stillonly　now　she　wants　to　marry　her　to　me！〃

He　wished　to　show　her　that　he　understood　her；　and　he　was　on　the　point　of　seizing　her　hand；　to　do　he　did　n't　know　what　to　hold　it；　to　press　it；　to　kiss　itwhen　he　heard　the　sharp　twang　of　the　bell　at　the　door　of　the　little　apartment。

Mrs。　Vivian　fluttered　away。

〃It　's　Angela；〃　she　cried；　and　she　stood　there　waiting　and　listening；　smiling　at　Bernard；　with　her　handkerchief　pressed　to　her　lips。

In　a　moment　the　girl　came　into　the　drawing…room；　but　on　seeing　Bernard　she　stopped；　with　her　hand　on　the　door…knob。　Her　mother　went　to　her　and　kissed　her。

〃It　's　Mr。　Longueville；　dearesthe　has　found　us　out。〃

〃Found　us　out？〃　repeated　Angela；　with　a　little　laugh。　〃What　a　singular　expression！〃

She　was　blushing　as　she　had　blushed　when　she　first　saw　him　at　Blanquais。　She　seemed　to　Bernard　now　to　have　a　great　and　peculiar　brightness　something　she　had　never　had　before。

〃I　certainly　have　been　looking　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　was　greatly　disappointed　when　I　found　you　had　taken　flight　from　Blanquais。〃

〃Taken　flight？〃　　She　repeated　his　words　as　she　had　repeated　her　mother's。　〃That　is　also　a　strange　way　of　speaking！〃

〃I　don't　care　what　I　say；〃　said　Bernard；　〃so　long　as　I　make　you　understand　that　I　have　wanted　very　much　to　see　you　again；　and　that　I　have　wondered　every　day　whether　I　might　venture〃

〃I　don't　know　why　you　should　n't　venture！〃　she　interrupted；　giving　her　little　laugh　again。　　〃We　are　not　so　terrible；　are　we；　mamma？that　is；　when　once　you　have　climbed　our　five　flights　of　stairs。〃

〃I　came　up　very　fast；〃　said　Bernard；　〃and　I　find　your　apartment　magnificent。〃

〃Mr。　Longueville　must　come　again；　must　he　not；　dear？〃　asked　mamma。

〃I　shall　come　very　often；　with　your　leave；〃　Bernard　declared。

〃It　will　be　immensely　kind；〃　said　Angela；　looking　away。

〃I　am　not　sure　that　you　will　think　it　that。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　trying　to　prove；〃　said　Angela；　〃first　that　we　ran　away　from　you；　and　then　that　we　are　not　nice　to　our　visitors。〃

〃Oh　no；　not　that！〃　　Bernard　exclaimed；　〃for　I　assure　you　I　shall　not　care　how　cold　you　are　with　me。〃

She　walked　away　toward　another　door；　which　was　masked　with　a　curtain　that　she　lifted。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that；　for　it　gives　me　courage　to　say　that　I　am　very　tired；　and　that　I　beg　you　will　excuse　me。〃

She　glanced　at　him　a　moment　over　her　shoulder；　then　she　passed　out；　dropping　the　curtain。

Bernard　stood　there　face　to　face　with　Mrs。　Vivian；　whose　eyes　seemed　to　plead　with　him　more　than　ever。　　In　his　own　there　was　an　excited　smile。

〃Please　don't　mind　that；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I　know　it　's　true　that　she　is　tired。〃

〃Mind　it；　dear　lady？〃　cried　the　young　man。　　〃I　delight　in　it。　It　's　just　what　I　like。〃

〃Ah；　she　's　very　peculiar！〃　sighed　Mrs。　Vivian。

〃She　is　strangeyes。　　But　I　think　I　understand　her　a　little。〃

〃You　must　come　back　to…morrow；　then。〃

〃I　hope　to　have　many　to…morrows！〃　cried　Bernard　as　he　took　his　departure。






CHAPTER　XXIII

And　he　had　them　in　fact。　　He　called　the　next　day　at　the　same　hour；　and　he　found　the　mother　and　the　daughter　together　in　their　pretty　salon。　Angela　was　very　gentle　and　gracious；　he　suspected　Mrs。　Vivian　had　given　her　a　tender　little　lecture　upon　the　manner　in　which　she　had　received　him　the　day　before。　　After　he　had　been　there　five　minutes；　Mrs。　Vivian　took　a　decanter　of　water　that　was　standing　upon　a　table　and　went　out　on　the　balcony　to　irrigate　her　flowers。　　Bernard　watched　her　a　while　from　his　place　in　the　room；　then　she　moved　along　the　balcony　and　out　of　sight。　Some　ten　minutes　elapsed　without　her　re…appearing；　and　then　Bernard　stepped　to　the　threshold　of　the　window　and　looked　for　her。　　She　was　not　there；　and　as　he　came　and　took　his　seat　near　Angela　again；　he　announced；　rather　formally；　that　Mrs。　Vivian　had　passed　back　into　one　of　the　other　windows。

Angela　was　silent　a　momentthen　she　said

〃Should　you　like　me　to　call　her？〃

She　was　very　peculiarthat　was　very　true；　yet　Bernard　held　to　his　declaration　of　the　day　before　that　he　now　understood　her　a　little。

〃No；　I　don't　desire　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　wish　to　see　you　alone；　I　have　something　particular　to　say　to　you。〃

She　turned　her　face　toward　him；　and　there　was　something　in　its　expression　that　showed　him　that　he　looked　to　her　more　serious　than　he　had　ever　looked。　He　sat　down　again；　for　some　moments　he　hesitated　to　go　on。

〃You　frighten　me；〃　she　said　laughing；　and　in　spite　of　her　laugh　this　was　obviously　true。

〃I　assure　you　my　state　of　mind　is　anything　but　formidable。　I　am　afraid　of　you；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　humble　and　apologetic。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that；〃　said　Angela。　　〃I　particularly　dislike　receiving　apologies；　even　when　I　know　what　they　are　for。　What　yours　are　for；　I　can't　imagine。〃

〃You　don't　dislike　meyou　don't　hate　me？〃　　Bernard　suddenly　broke　out。

〃You　don't　ask　me　that　humbly。　　Excuse　me　therefore　if　I　say　I　have　other；　and　more　practical；　things　to　do。〃

〃You　despise　me；〃　said　Bernard。

〃That　is　not　humble　either；　for　you　seem　to　insist　upon　it。〃

〃It　would　be　after　all　a　way　of　thinking　of　me；　and　I　have　a　reason　for　wishing　you　to　do　that。〃

〃I　remember　very　well　that　you　used　to　have　a　reason　for　everything。　It　was　not　always　a　good　one。〃

〃This　one　is　excellent；〃　said　Bernard；　gravely。　　〃I　have　been　in　love　with　you　for　three　years。〃

She　got　up　slowly；　turning　away。

〃Is　that　what　you　wished　to　say　to　me？〃

She　went　toward　the　open　window；　and　he　followed　her。

〃I　hope　it　does　n't　offend　you。　　I　don't　say　it　lightly　it　's　not　a　piece　of　gallantry。　　It　's　the　very　truth　of　my　being。　I　did　n't　know　it　till　latelystrange　as　that　may　seem。　I　loved　you　long　before　I　knew　itbefore　I　ventured　or　presumed　to　know　it。　　I　was　thinking　of　you　when　I　seemed　to　myself　to　be　thinking　of　other　things。　　It　is　very　strangethere　are　things　in　it　I　don't　understand。　　I　travelled　over　the　world；　I　tried　to　interest；　to　divert　myself；　but　at　bottom　it　was　a　perfect　failure。　　To　see　you　againthat　was　what　I　wanted。　When　I　saw　you　last　month　at　Blanquais　I　knew　it；　then　everything　became　clear。　　It　was　the　answer　to　the　riddle。　I　wished　to　read　it　very　clearlyI　wished　to　be　sure；　therefore　I　did　n't　follow　you　immediately。　　I　questioned　my　heart　I　cross…questioned　it。　　It　has　borne　the　examination；　and　now　I　am　sure。　　I　am　very　sure。　　I　love　you　as　my　lifeI　beg　you　to　listen　to　me！〃

She　had　listenedshe　had　listened　intently；　looking　straight　out　of　the　window　and　without　moving。

〃You　have　seen　very　little　of　me；〃　she　said；　presently；　turning　her　illuminated　eye　on　him。

〃I　have　seen　enough；〃　Bernard　added；　smiling。　　〃You　must　remember　that　at　Baden　I　saw　a　good　deal　of　you。〃

〃Yes；　but　that　did　n't　make　you　like　me。　　I　don't　understand。〃

Bernard　stood　there　a　moment；　frowning；　with　his　eyes　lowered。

〃I　can　imagine　that。　　But　I　think　I　can　explain。〃

〃Don't　explain　now；〃　said　Angela。　　〃You　have　said　enough；　explain　some　other　time。〃　　And　she　went　out　on　the　balcony。

Bernard；　of　course；　in　a　moment　was　beside　her；　and；　disregarding　her　injunction；　he　began　to　explain。

〃I　thought　I　disliked　youbut　I　have　come　to　the　conclusion　it　was　just　the　contrary。　　In　reality　I　was　in　love　with　you。　I　had　been　so　from　the　first　time　I　saw　youwhen　I　made　that　sketch　of　you　at　Siena。〃

〃That　in　itself　needs　an　explanation。　　I　was　not　at　all　nice　then　I　was　very　rude；　very　perverse。　　I　was　horrid！〃

〃Ah；　you　admit　it！〃　cried　Bernard；　with　a　sort　of　quick　elation。

She　had　been　pale；　but　she　suddenly　blushed。

〃Your　own　conduct　was　singular；　as　I　remember　it。　　It　was　not　exactly　agreeable。〃

〃Perhaps　not；　but　at　least　it　was　meant　to　be。　　I　did　n't　know　how　to　please　you　then；　and　I　am　far　from　supposing　that　I　have　learned　now。　But　I　entreat　you　to　give　me　a　chance。〃

She　was　silent　a　while；　her　eyes　wandered　over　the　great　prospect　of　Paris。

〃Do　you　know　how　you　can　please　me　now？〃　she　said；　at　last。　〃By　leaving　me　alone。〃

Bernard　looked　at　her　a　moment；　then　came　straight　back　into　the　drawing…room　and　took　his　hat。

〃You　see　I　avail　myself　of　the　first　chance。　　But　I　shall　come　back　to…morrow。〃

〃I　am　greatly　obliged　to　you　for　what　you　have　said。　Such　a　speech　as　that　deserves　to　be　listened　to　with　consideration。　You　may　come　back　to…morrow；〃　Angela　added。

On　the　morrow；　when　he　came　back；　she　received　him　alone。

〃How　did　you　know；　at　Baden；　that　I　did　n't　like　you？〃　he　asked；　as　soon　as　she　would　allow　him。

She　smiled；　very　gently。

〃You　assured　me　yesterday　that　you　did　like　me。〃

〃I　mean　that　I　supposed　I　did　n't。　How　did　you　know　that？〃

〃I　can　only　say　that　I　observed。〃

〃You　must　have　observed　very　closely；　for；　superficially；　I　rather　had　the　air　of　admiring　you；〃　said　Bernard。

〃It　was　very　superficial。〃

〃You　don't　mean　that；　for；　after　all；　that　is　just　what　my　admiration；　my　interest　in　you；　were　not。　　They　were　deep；　they　were　latent。　They　were　not　superficialthey　were　subterranean。〃

〃You　are　contradicting　yourself；　and　I　am　perfectly　consistent；〃　said　Angela。　　〃Your　sentiments　were　so　well　hidden　that　I　supposed　I　displeased　you。〃

〃I　remember　that　at　Baden；　you　used　to　contradict　yourself；〃　B